By Anne Marie Krautheim, MA, RD, LD – CEO of GENYOUth
Originally published on Forbes.com – CLICK TO FIND THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE

In the journey to address poor eating habits, nutrition inequity and food insecurity, school meals emerge as a powerful catalyst for positive change. By implementing relatively simple adjustments, we can enhance the impact of school meals not only for children in need but for every student.

According to former U.S. Surgeon General and our nonprofit’s emeritus board member David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., despite progress in raising awareness about healthy eating over the past two decades, challenges persist, particularly in youth nutrition. He first brought attention to the issue in his Call to Action as surgeon general.

Today, one in five U.S. children faces food insecurity; diet-related chronic diseases are pervasive, and the majority are falling short of nutritional recommendations for whole grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables, leading to calcium, vitamin D, fiber, potassium and iron being consumed dangerously below recommended levels.

As we reflect this month on the fourth anniversary of Covid-19 being declared a pandemic, the repercussions since that time have included exponentially high food insecurity rates among our nation’s youth, underscoring the urgent need for nutrition equity. Now is the time to examine the landscape of youth nutrition comprehensively, emphasizing the critical importance of addressing gaps and fostering a holistic approach to nutrition education.

The benefits of instilling healthy eating habits in youth are well-documented, influencing overall health, reducing chronic ailment risks and positively impacting academic success. However, despite these advantages, our newest GENYOUth Insights report reveals that almost half of youth admit they don’t eat healthy all or most of the time. Some potential strategies for addressing this challenge, as outlined in the report, include nutrition knowledge, regular breakfast consumption, family meals, family support and being physically active. Alarmingly, students expressing concerns about food security are more prone to skipping meals, with over half of children from lower-income households reporting regular breakfast skipping.

This is where education institutions, purpose-driven corporations and key decision-makers within these organizations can help play a role—and a major one, at that. We’ve found that school breakfast is a proven solution to nutrition equity and food insecurity. However, barriers such as timing, accessibility and stigma limit participation, with only half of school lunch participants benefiting from school breakfast. So what’s the solution? One recommendation is to embrace the “Healthy School Meals for All” concept by offering school breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge to families. Research shows this significantly increases school breakfast participation. Currently, just eight states have adopted this policy.

Another program that has proven to be substantial in terms of growing participation is grab-and-go school breakfast, which provides the meal outside of the school cafeteria and brings it to high-traffic areas such as school entryways or hallways. This alternative service approach overcomes hurdles to eating breakfast in the cafeteria, including time and stigma. However, only 28% of our survey respondents indicate that their school provides this option. This underscores a significant gap in adopting convenient and effective approaches to encourage healthy eating habits among students.

As stakeholders, it is our collective responsibility to champion the cause of nutrition equity, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Schools can:

• Expand school breakfast, including alternative breakfast opportunities at school in a variety of settings, such as grab-and-go carts and breakfast in the classroom.
• Apply for a grant. As one example, our Fuel Up Nutrition Grant provides schools with a nutrition equipment package proven to increase the accessibility of school meals.
• Make breakfast available when students want it, especially later in the morning (second-chance breakfast, later school start time).

Public and private sector organizations can:

• Work collaboratively with school leaders, educators, school nutrition staff and students to identify needs and support solutions.
• Engage students’ own ideas, and equip and empower them to implement their innovative solutions.
• Support school nutrition programs through outside funding and grants.

The health trajectory of our youth is intricately linked to their dietary choices and lifestyle habits. To empower the next generation, early intervention, educational support and innovative strategies must take precedence.

Our collective pursuit involves connecting the nutritious foods produced by America’s farmers to foster nutrition security and end student hunger. School meals play an outsized role, and by working together, we can provide healthy meals for all youth, creating healthier school communities and empowering the next generation to make informed, healthy choices, shaping a vibrant and resilient future for us all.